Next Steps

2nd Annual Doctors Making A Difference

3/10/2009

Author: Lisa Patterson and Shyla Clark, Staff Writers

Source: 425 MAGAZINE

Last year, we featured doctors who are making a difference on the Eastside. The article was incredibly well read and afterward we heard about a lot more doctors and other professionals in the medical community who are worthy of recognition, too. So we combed through nominations from their colleagues, and e-mails and letters from 425 readers who recommended their favorite physicians, and we are pleased to introduce you to the 2009 “Doctors Making a Difference” honorees. And we mention all the nominees, as well!

Bellevue born and raised, Dr. David A. Lundin specializes in complex and minimally invasive spinal surgery. “One of my best friends growing up died after a motor vehicle accident where he suffered a traumatic brain and spine injury,” he said. Combined with an interest in the nervous system discovered in college, this catastrophic event led Lundin to the field of neurosurgery. Within his first year at the University of Washington School of Medicine, he focused on neurosurgery and ultimately graduated at the top of his class.

Lundin spent a year in London working at Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, the neurosurgery hospital where the brain CT scanner was invented. “Working in a health system with universal access to care was inspiring,” he said, “It gave us the freedom to treat patients without the barriers of insurance companies or the fear of high payments that stress patients and families in already stressful times of illness.”

Lundin also traveled to Sri Lanka, where he worked with the chief of neurosurgery in their national hospital. “With a population twice that of New York City and only one head neurosurgeon, the amount of work to be done and the severity of the illnesses due to a lack of access made me feel extremely fortunate to work and live in the U.S.,” he said.

He usually spends more than 12 hours at work, beginning at 6 a.m. and wrapping up around 7 p.m. with little time for lunch between surgery, meetings, patient rounds and administrative duties. But the hours spent are worth it when his patients follow up. “I had a patient travel to China to walk the Great Wall pain-free after a successful surgery. He could barely walk half a block before.”

“Working with a diverse group of patients and families who suffer from complex conditions and giving them hope that they can return to active and healthy lifestyles are what I like most about my job.”

Photo: Dr. Lundin is featured second from the left.

For the complete article featuring all nine "Doctors Making a Difference" please visit 425 Magazine.